Thistle-eradicator.



O. MURK. THISTLE ERADIGATOR. APPLICATION IILED MAR. 15, 1909.

Witmeaoao chine being lowered. Fig. 3 is a top plan UNITED STATES PATENT enrich.

L0 MURK, 0F WARREN, MINNESOTA.

THISTLE-ER Application filed March 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLOF Morn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Warren, in the county of Marshall and btate of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thistle- Eradicators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to weed cutters especially adapted for cutting thistle and other obnoxious weeds.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character specified in which the cutter is stationary relative to its frame, but the said frame is adjustable so that the cutter may be held at various positions relative to the ground, and also whereby the same may be held at various angles relative to the ground.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above it is contemplated employing a wheeled frame either end of which may be independently adjusted or simultaneously adjusted, so that-the cutter may be adapted for cutting on. level ground or when the machine is ascending or descending a hill', or when the machine is being used on uneven surfaces.

It will, of course, be understood that the essential elements of the machine necessary in the accomplishment of the recited and other objects of the invention are susceptible of a wide variation of details and structural arrangements, but one preferred and practical example of the same is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved thistle cutter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the front portion of the maview. Fig. 4; is a bottom plan view. Fig. 5 is a detail View of a portion of one of the axles showing the connection of the same with its operating lever. Fig. 6 is a detail rear elevation of the cutter and its hanger. Fig. 7 -is a top plan View of a loop for holding the front lever when the machine is lowered at its front end. Fig. 8 is a detail View of a latching plate carried by the frame.

Referring. to said drawings by numerals it will be seen that the frame is composed of two side members 1 which are preferably formed of angle irons which are arranged in spaced relation and incline toward each other so that they are closer together at their Specification of Letters Patent.

ADICATOR.

Patented Dec. 2%, 196% 1909. eel-m1 No. 483,636.

front ends than at their rear ends. The said sides are connected at their rear by means of a flat. member 3 and at their front end by a similar member a and are also connected by an intermediate flat member The front member 3 has a king bolt 6 passed through it and also through an elongated bearing plate 7 from which project the tongue supports 8 having the usual pivotal connections with a tongue 9. The king bolt 6 also holds the links 10 in pivotal engagement with the plate 3 and the bearing plate 7, said links being in turn connected with the usual sin gle or double-tree 11. The bearing plate 7. carries suitable journals 12 on its underside for the-sectional axle of the machine, said sections being each provided with a straight portion 13 which is rotatably mounted on said journals and at their outer portions terminate in right angular extensions 1% which in turn have their ends bent at right angles as indicated at .15 to form spindles for the wheels 16. The inner ends of said sections of the axle are flattened and bent at right angles, as indicated at 17 and are adapted to 1 project through a slot 18 formed in the cen ter of the bearing plate 7 and have one end of an operating lever 19 rigidly secured between the two flattened ends of the sections, as shown more clearly in F1g. 5 of the ac companymg drawings.

The front portions of the two side memhere 1 are each provided with two standards 20 the intermediate portions 21 of which are inturned as indicated at 22 and then projected upward as indicated at- 23, and said portions 23 of the two standards are con nected by means of the substantially U- shaped forwardly projecting strap or loop 24, which serves to limit the forward move ment of the lever 19. A bail which may be formed of a single piece of wire or equivs alent material, has end eyes 25 formed in itwhich fit over the ends of the standards 20 and its horizontal intermediate portion 26 serves to hold the lever 19 between said which is a duplicate of the described front axle, it being composed of the horizontal portions 80 rotatably mounted in the journals and angular end portions 31 and an gnlar spindles 32 upon which are mounted the rear wheels 33. The inner ends of said sections are flattened as indicated at 34 and bent at right angles. said'flattened inner ends 3e project through a transversely depressed and longitudinally slotted portion 36 of the bearing plate 28 and are rigidly fastened to one end of an operating ever 37. The lever 37, as well as the lever 19 whenlowered projects across the intermediatecrossing member 5 and may be held in such position by means of a rod 38 having a swivel connection 39 with one side member 1 and whose free end is adapted to engage with a slot 40 formed in a plate 41 carried by the opposite side member and be held in. such engagement by means of a pivotally mounted locking plate 42 having a beveled or rounded edge 43 adapted for binding engagement with "said rod so as to prevent movement of the same as is shown in Fig. lof the accompanying drawings.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, that by rocking the levers 19 and 37, the front and rear of the frame may be adjusted, such adjustments being had either simultaneously or independent The cutter used in connection with the described frame is composed oftwo flat blades 4H5 arranged in substantially triangular shape with their point or apex projecting forwardly or toward the front of the machine. The pointed end of'the cutter is .suspended from the intermediate connecting member 5 by means of a vertically disposed hanger 46 which maybe sharpened on its front edge to assist in the cutting operation and whose lower end is preferably siitted and outturned and projects in opposite direction to form attaching flanges 47 which engage with each cutter blade, as is shown in Figs. 4 and (3. Side brackets 48 are also carried by the intermediate crossing member 5 for lmparting rigidity .to said hanger 46.

The rear ends of the two cutter blades each have a separate hanger connection 49-50 with the rear crossing member 3, said hangers being also sharpened at their front edges for cutting operations similar to the hunger for the front of the cutter blades.

And said hangers 4-950 are suitably braced by means of the bracket 51 which has a rigid intermediate connectionwilh the member 3 and whose ends are fastened to the said hangers.

A standard 52 projects from the rear crossing member 3 and carries at its upper end a link or loop 53 ndnpn-d for engage An operators seat 54 is supported upon a rearwa-rdly inclined spring standard 55 carried by the intermediate member 5, said seat being located within convenient reach of either of the two levers 19 and 37, so that the same may be readily manipulated to adjust'the frame at either end or at both ends,

, as desired.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a cutter rigid with and depending from the same, front and. rear axles for said frame, wheels mounted thereon, a lever for operatingeach axle to raise or lower said frame, a rod extendingaeross the intermediate portion of said frame to hold the levers in one of their frame-adjustin positions, a holding plate for the free end 0 said rod, and a latch for retaining said rod in engagement with said holding plate.

, 3. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, sectional front and rear axles carried thereby, said axles having their outer ends arranged at angles, wheels mounted upon the angular outer ends of said axles, the inner ends of said axles being flattened and bent at angles and projecting through the frame, a lever for each axlehaving a rigid engagement with the inner flattened angular ends thereof whereby either end of said frame may be adjusted, independent means for holding said lovers in one frame ZIClMIStIDg-POSltIOD, and a swiveled rod for retainim said lovers in another frame adjusting position.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame provided with a cutter, a lever for adjusting each end of the frame, independent means for holding said levers in one frame adjusting position, and com-' mon means for holding the lovers in another frame adjusting position.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame provided with a cutter,

1 an adjusting lever for each end thereof, independent means for locking said lovers in one frame-adjusting position, and common 1 means for locking said levers in another men; with the lever 37 to hpld the same in its frameq'aiaing position.

frame adjusting position.

(3. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame, provided with a cutter, a lever for adjusting each end of said frame,

, a rod for holding the levers in one position,

and independent means for holding the end fastened between the angular ends of levers in another position. the axles. 10 7 A machine of the character described, In testimony whereof I hereunto affiX my comprising a frame, a cutter therefor, axles i signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

5 for said frame, said axl e being in sections i OLOF MURK.

and'haiiing their inner ends spaced apart Witnesses:

and bent at an angle, and an ad usting lever BASMUS Hoen,

for each end of sa d frame, having its lower J. S. HILLEnER. 

